The French court system – an overview

French courts: division between courts in public matters and in private matters

In France, the structure of the judiciary system is divided into ordinary courts for handling civil and criminal litigation on the one hand, and administrative courts on the other hand. Each Court has its own special provisions for competence, how to file a lawsuit and representation by an attorney.

The administrative courts in France

The administrative courts handle lawsuits involving the French State, local authorities or other public authorities ruled by public law. Administrative courts handle, for example, litigation with a mayor’s office on the grant of a building license. Unlike Germany, France does not have a specific court for tax matters.

The ordinary courts in France

1.1. Courts of general jurisdiction in first instance1.1.1. Criminal courts

Police Court – “Tribunal de police”: These courts deal with minor offenses punishable by a fine up to €1,500, such as battery leading to an inability to work for up to 8 days.

Criminal courts – “Tribunal correctionnel”: Criminal courts handle misdemeanors such as theft. The Criminal court constitutes one of the Chambers of the High Court.

Jury court – “Cour d’assise”: Jury courts handle felonies. Every French department has a jury court. A jury court is composed of professional judges and a jury.

1.1.2. Civil courts

Court of lay assessors – “Juge de proximité”: These courts, known as “neighborhood judges,” were introduced in 2003. Although the lay assessors are non-professional judges, they still have a strong legal background. They deal with cases having a value of claim of up to €4,000. These courts will probably be suppressed once again in 2015.

Trial Courts – “Tribunal d’instance”: Trial Courts have ordinary jurisdiction for civil matters with a value of claim between €4,000 and €10,000.In some matters, Trial Courts have exclusive jurisdiction independent of the value of the case. Trial Courts handle, for example, litigation between tenants and landlords concerning lease agreements.

High Courts – “Tribunal de Grande Instance”: High Courts are ordinary civil courts and have jurisdiction in all civil matters, unless other civil courts have exclusive jurisdiction for handling a matter. High Courts deal with matters with a value of claim of up to €10,000 in first instance. French High Courts have exclusive jurisdiction, regardless of the value of claim, for matters involving civil status, filiation and nationality, as well as in any litigation for real estate or patent and trademark infringement proceedings.

The representation by a lawyer is mandatory before a High Court. It is therefore necessary for the persons involved in the proceedings to be officially represented by an attorney within the circuit of the High Court (so-called “avocat postulant”). If a lawyer is not entitled to represent his client before the Court that has jurisdiction in the case, a second lawyer (known as an “avocat postulant”), who is admitted in the circuit of the High Court that has jurisdiction over the case, must be approached. The avocat postulant appears in court and is in charge of the communication of briefs and exhibits to the Court; however, the clients’ usual lawyer (known as an “avocat plaidant”), manages the case and instructs the avocat postulant: he or she provides legal advice to the client in the matter, drafts court documents and pleads the case during the court hearing.

1.2.Specialized courts in first instance

Labor courts – “Conseil des Prud’hommes”: Labor courts have jurisdiction in all litigation cases between employers and employees. The judges in labor courts are non-professional judges in most cases. Half of the court is composed of judges who are affiliated with employers, and the other half of judges who are affiliated with employees. Usual proceedings before a labor court are divided into two phases: a mediation hearing and a common, oral hearing.

Commercial courts – “Tribunal de commerce”: The commercial court handles cases on commercial transactions or litigation between professionals. Just like in Germany, independent commercial courts do not exist in the Alsace and Moselle departments. In these departments, commercial litigation is handled by a commercial chamber of the High Court.

Social Security courts – Tribunal des affaires de la sécurité sociale: Social security courts handle litigation between insurance holders and the public social and health insurance, especially concerning the insurance benefits and the payment of contributions.

1.3. Court of Appeal – Cour d’appel

There are 36 Courts of Appeal in France. In most cases, it is mandatory to be represented by a lawyer. A Court of Appeal is divided into different chambers (civil, social, commercial and criminal chambers). It is not possible to file an appeal for cases with a value of up to €4,000. The appeal handles both matters of evidence in the case and legal analysis.

1.4. Supreme court – Cour de cassation

The French Supreme Court sits in Paris. It is the Supreme Court of ordinary jurisdiction. With the exception of certain appeals that go against the decisions of specialist courts, it is generally mandatory to be represented by an admitted lawyer in order to appear before the Supreme Court. Contrary to the Courts of Appeal, the Supreme Court only handles matters of law, and not questions of evidence in the case submitted. The Supreme Court creates precedents for futures cases in France and supervises the unity of French case law.

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How many lawyers in France? More than 55,000 French lawyers (“Avocats”) are registered in France. French lawyers are admitted to one of the local bar associations (“Ordre des avocats”). 179 bar associations are registered in France. The different bar associations vary widely according to their size: the bar association of Paris is by far the…

How do you become a notary in France? There are two different ways of acquiring the professional title as a notary in France. The basic requirement for both is to obtain a Master’s degree in law (called a “Master 1”). Students must then pursue their legal training either in a local school for notaries (“Centre…

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